Food truck fest fans rejoice: It's back

BY IVY MOORE Special to The Sumter Item

Posted 10/29/17

Sumter Green is bringing its Food Truck Festival back to the Sumter fairgrounds, truly "by popular demand," said Lynn Kennedy, chairwoman of the nonprofit organization whose mission is to keep the community's environment healthy - and …

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Food truck fest fans rejoice: It's back

SUMTER ITEM FILE PHOTO Hungry customers line up for some Mexican food at Jose's Food Truck at last year's festival.

Sumter Green is bringing its Food Truck Festival back to the Sumter fairgrounds, truly "by popular demand," said Lynn Kennedy, chairwoman of the nonprofit organization whose mission is to keep the community's environment healthy - and beautiful.

Kennedy said the first Untapped: Food Trucks and Craft Beer festival, held in March of this year, surprised organizers with its popularity - so much so, Sumter Green decided to have another on Saturday, Nov. 4, from noon to 6 p.m.

"People kept asking 'when are you going to have another one?'" Kennedy said.

"We had 16 food trucks in March, and we had a lot more people than we expected. This time, we'll have 25 trucks, so the lines will be shorter, and there will be more choices."

"There's even a truck called 'Bacon Me Crazy' that has bacon in everything, including dessert," Kennedy said. She advises attendees to "bring cash, because not all of the food truck operators accept credit cards." Beer is sold for cash only. There is an ATM on site, she said.

As the name of the event indicates, said Matthew Morse, webmaster for the City of Sumter, craft beer is an important element of the festival.

The beers will again be located in the Agricultural Building, renamed the Beer Barn for the festival. Budweiser, Bud Light and Michelob Ultra will be available for $4 each in 16-ounce aluminum bottles to those with tickets at any level, including the $5 general admission ($10 at the gate). Craft beers, some with intriguing names such as Holy City Pluff Mud Porter and Catawba White Zombie, will cost $5.

Those who wish to participate in the Craft Beer Tasting will pay $25 for advance tickets ($35 at the gate), which will admit them into the Beer Barn at noon, as well as into the food truck area. This ticket admits the holder to the tasting, scheduled for 3 to 6 p.m., and entitles ticket holders to unlimited 2-ounce servings of the craft beers.

VIP Access tickets, $20 in advance or $30 at the gate, will get you into the Beer Barn and the food truck area at 11 a.m., a full hour before others. These tickets are limited. Tickets to the Craft Beer Tasting must be purchased separately.

Morse said there will be several new releases of craft beer "not available in our area before some available only one time a year and some available one time only."

The craft beers, he said, are mostly from nearby areas - the Midlands, North Carolina and Georgia.

"We tried to make it as local as possible," Morse said. The only draft beer comes from Local Motion, a new brewery out of Florence that will be on site.

Both Kennedy and Morse asked guests to drink responsibly.

"We will have transportation available for those who do not feel comfortable driving after the event (at their own expense)," Kennedy said.

Kennedy said the entertainment will be outstanding, with Swift Creek band coming back and J.D. and the Breeze playing several sets during the noon-to-6 p.m. festival.

Entry to Untapped will be through West Liberty Street entrance to Sumter County Civic Center. Ample free parking is available. Guests will enter the festival itself through the gate nearest the Potato House. Identification will be checked here. You must be 21 to participate in the beer tastings.

Once admitted, guests will be able to leave and re-enter the festival at any time during the event.

Tickets can be purchased in person at Swan Lake Visitors Center, 822 W. Liberty St., or the Sumter Opera House box office, 21 N. Main St., or online at SumterGreen.org or SumterOperaHouse.com.

For more information, visit the website SumterGreen.org or the Sumter Green Facebook page.

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